By Samantha Alves
Published Jul 26, 2012 at 8:11 am (Updated Jul 26, 2012 at 8:10 am)

Some 70 students and volunteers from eleven companies participated in The Centre on Philanthropy’s Community Day.

The event, which was organised to benefit local charities, saw volunteers work on thirteen different projects, including cleaning BAMZ’s seawater reservoir and helping Meals on Wheels.

For the second year in a row there was also a “Facebook Challenge”. Each group of students was challenged to take a photograph representing their company and their project, and submit it to the centre’s Facebook page.

They have until July 31 to receive as many “likes” as they can on their photos. The group who receives the most “likes” wins.

The centre facilitates three challenge days each year by giving local charities the chance to send in their volunteer projects that can be completed in one day. After all projects are submitted, companies choose the projects based on interest expressed by employees.

This year the centre also held a “Family Community Day” for the first time, with the purpose of giving families the opportunity to help charities with important projects.

“Every summer the students bring their enthusiasm and energy to these projects,” said Jennifer Pitcher, Volunteer Coordinator for The Centre on Philanthropy. “It’s incredible what can be done in just one day, and they have a lot of fun too.

“Summer Intern Community Day 2012 was certainly a great success. We had quite a few charities that submitted projects to be completed along with a tremendous turnout from the summer interns who were keen to get involved.